The Simple Things

The Simple Things is a beautiful, useful, quirky and fun magazine about taking time to live well. We cover mindfulness and microadventures, eating and growing, forgotten wisdom, home life and slow moments. It's for people who love their lives but want to take the pressure off and remember what’s really important. We like tea & cake, learning stuff, being outside and the satisfaction of a job well done. Do you?

A could-do list September

Lisa

Berry nice • HEDGEROWS ARE BURSTING WITH FRUITS, SO ENJOY A LITTLE BLACKBERRY AND ELDERBERRY PICKING, THEN MAKE SWEET AND SAVOURY DISHES FOR NOW AND FOR LATER

Magical creatures • AN APPRECIATION OF THE PEREGRINE FALCON

The high notes • SCRIBBLING DOWN HER DAILY DELIGHTS REMINDS LAURA BROWN OF LIFE'S GOLDEN MOMENTS, AND THAT THEY CAN BE FOUND ANYWHERE AND EVERYWHERE…

CAKE IN THE HOUSE • A crusted and crumbly cake with a fennel twist that makes the most of the season's apples. It's as good for breakfast with a coffee as it is for a pud.

My day in cups of tea • We head to Bath to meet See+QUIN's Kate Southward and find out how she spends her day with her vintage pink chainstitch machine, over a cuppa or two

September Almanac • SEASONAL THOUGHTS TO HELP YOU ENJOY THE MONTH

A simple thing…

VENICE MESTRE • CENTRAL VENICE MIGHT CLAIM THE LIMELIGHT, BUT MESTRE – ON THE MAINLAND – OFFERS A MORE LOCAL FLAVOUR, SAYS SINÙ FOGARIZZU

COULD-DO VENICE MESTRE • Sinù's favourite places in the city.

PAUSE • Take a moment with some well-chosen words

Drawn to nature • ADD A SPLASH OF CREATIVITY TO YOUR PICNIC BY PACKING PAINTBRUSHES AND PENCILS AND HEADING TO A SCENIC SPOT TO SKETCH AND SNACK

“Poems are like little messages in bottles, that I'm casting out into the sea and seeing who will find them” • Living between the deaf and hearing worlds has given award-winning author, poet and educator, Raymond Antrobus, an insight into and an understanding of both

MODERN ECCENTRICS The Regency revivalists • IN A WORLD THAT CAN FEEL INCREASINGLY UNIFORM, WE'RE CELEBRATING THOSE HAPPILY DOING THINGS a bit differently. Meet the PEOPLE WHO ARE seriously PASSIONATE about their pastimes. PERHAPS THEY'LL PERSUADE YOU TO TRY something NEW?

WEARING WELL • Stories of the clothes we love THE PINAFORE DRESS

Coping with big change • LIFE DOESN'T ALWAYS TURN OUT AS WE'D HOPED BUT THERE ARE POSITIVES TO BE FOUND, EVEN WHEN THINGS DON'T GO TO PLAN

A simple thing…

Good THINGS • POSITIVE NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

Weekend AWAY • SEA DIPS, SAUNAS AND HARBOUR HERITAGE ON A CAR-FREE BREAK IN CORNWALL

Know a thing or two… BOGS, FENS & MARSHES • Solid facts about these mercurial and mysterious wetlands

Glossary

BOG FINDS • Oxygen-free and acidic with natural tannin, British bogs act as time capsules that perfectly pickle organic history.

BOG STANDARDS • Wetland wonders to visit.

GOLDEN OPPORTUNITIES • Either through happy coincidence or careful preparation, these winners of the British Wildlife Photography Awards 2026 were in the right place at the right time to capture some incredible moments of wildlife

MISSION POSSIBLE • FROM COASTAL RAMBLING TO FOLLY BAGGING, AND FOREST-BASED YOGA TO CHASING WATERFALLS, ANY INTEREST CAN INSPIRE A TICK-AS-YOU-GO CHALLENGE

THE BIG IDEA • So many wellbeing books, so little time. Our deconstruction of someone's fresh thinking could send you in a new direction

THREADS THROUGH TIME • IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT BAYEUX. TAPESTRIES HAVE A RICH HISTORY OF STORYTELLING, AS WELL AS DEMONSTRATING THEIR MAKERS’ SKILLS

FLOWERS IN THE HOUSE • Bringing blooms indoors: it's what every home needs

AMONG THE WILDFLOWERS •...